I am a big melee enthusiast and comming from the official Fallout games, melee was always a viable strategy, so I made a melee build in this game too.
It worked quite well and was fun for the first few hours of the game, but later, I encountered the enemy "Mr. Gutsy" who took a lot of hiots to kill and you coulsn't reliably avoid his attacks at melee range, so you always ended up taking a lot of damage. Then, I made it to the first boss, the raider leader, and I legit think it is impossible to beat him in melee because he was super fast and, while I am sure he would be easy to defeat usin guns, his attacks literally felt impossible to avoid at melee range. It really feels like this game wasn't designed to accomodate for melee players, which is strange to me because there are a lot of melee weapons, melee buff food and I think even melee focussed armor later on.
So is this just skill issue or is melee just not viable in the game and I should restart with a guns build?

>>42264683 (OP)
Spoilers are actual spoilers for future stuff since you're on early game.

Probably skill issue I imagine, yes. I actually have made 4 runs with almost every main focus in the game...besides melee, but every strategy has a weak point.
In the magic run, an enemy later on alicorns is extremely annoying, with guns ammo is annoying to come by, and inventory limit actually a pain, energy weapon makes it a nice middle ground from magic and bullet guns, but later on you're in for a bad time Enclave, and explosives need even more tactical awareness and usually quite a bit of sats, funly enough.
For melee, I recommend getting on top of your dash skill, you can actually evade through enemies as well as and not take any damage, unless explosive, even remapping it to mouse two or some key so you don't need to double tap constantly. Later on there's tech spells that probably should help it a lot too But I haven't done a melee run myself like I said, so.
Also, don't forget your drugs, drugs are your friends in a pickle, and if a fight is being too hard try using one or another. Food also gives passive bonuses for a bit and worth using. And if you're still stuck, just farm a bit more, sometimes you might reach places underlevel and have a harder time too.

>>42264683 (OP)
what kinds of things do you use for melee?

>>42264793
>remapping it to mouse two or some key so you don't need to double tap constantly
That actually sounds like a great idea.

>>42264833
Everything I can get my hooves on. Knives, shovel, crowbar for easier enemies I don't have problems with. Axe and hammer for the harder ones. They all break frequently.

what fallout games have you played?
I have tried 3 but that game is hard for me, it was free on epic games once so I installed it. It was some time after puss in boots 2 released so I name my character death. I just got stuck in one underground area and it seems like the name 'death' didn't mean that everything gets killed that stood in my way but that I am dead every time I go somewhere. Having experience with survival horror games and knowing to save on different save slots didn't help with my shill issue.

Maybe now that I got into fallout equestira I should try that game again.

>>42265085
I played 4 New Vegas.
4 had melee teleport VATS crit build and New Vegas had epic fast stunlock build.

>>42264793
But how do I repeat, let's say the first boss in melee?
Hit and run with dash spam? There is a stamina bar for the dash.

>>42265865
>repeat
*defeat
My brain refused to work.

>>42265865
If stamina is the issue, eat some food to lower usage before the fight...
Damage drugs, resistance or both...
Level up melee skill some more before trying...

You'll probably need multiple damage types (multiple melees, or grenades and or use a gun too) as he does have plenty of health to break guns and make it impossible if you only use a single offensive weapon, yea

I suck at platformers

>>42264683 (OP)
I did a melee run a few years ago. It certainly has its weaknesses but I was able to beat the game with reasonably few deaths. It's especially strong when combined with high telekinesis to hold your enemies in place while you slash them apart. I don't remember all the exact weapons but make sure to learn how the different types work (heavy/slashing/stabbing etc) because some are more useful in particular scenarios.

>>42264683 (OP)
Snort ten kilogram of drugs
hit things until they die
dash to phase through attacks